Disposable carriers for pneumatic conveyors

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic conveyor system for transmitting disposable carriers from an input to an output station. The system includes a tube extending between the two stations and an air blower creating an air stream flowing at high velocity through the tube to propel a carrier inserted therein. The disposable carrier is constituted by a sealable envelope for enclosing the items to be transmitted, the envelope having extendible elements attached thereto which are normally flat but which, when the envelope is subjected to an air stream, are actuated thereby to enlarge the effective crosssection of the carrier, whereby the carrier then behaves as an obstacle in the stream and is rapidly propelled toward the output station.

United States Patent 1 Fish 1 1 DISPOSABLE CARRIERS FOR PNEUMATIC CONVEYORS [75] Inventor: Leonard A. Fish, Chicago. 111.

[73] Assignee: Bank Computer Network Corporation, Chicago, I11.

122] Filed: Mar. 29, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 456,432

1 1 June 10, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 378,598 7/1923 Germany 243/32 686,087 1/1940 Germany 243/32 Primary Examiner-Evon C Blunk Assistant ExaminerJames L. Rowland [57] ABSTRACT A pneumatic conveyor system for transmitting disposable carriers from an input to an output station. The system includes a tube extending between the two stations and an air blower creating an air stream flowing at high velocity through the tube to propel a carrier inserted therein. The disposable carrier is constituted by a scalable envelope for enclosing the items to be transmitted, the envelope having extendible elements attached thereto which are normally flat but which, when the envelope is subjected to an air stream, are actuated thereby to enlarge the effective cross-section of the carrier, whereby the carrier then behaves as an obstacle in the stream and is rapidly propelled toward the output station.

8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJJUH 10 1915 3688433 sum 3 DISPUSABLF. CARRIERS FUR PNEUMATIC CONVEYURS RELATED APPLICATlON:

This application is related to a copending application of Joseph S. Wapner. Ser. No. 181.882. Filed Sept. 20. l97l. now US. Pat. No. 3.778.596. whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to pneumatic tube conveyor systems. and more particularly to a dispos able carrier for such systems. which carrier also provides a record of the material conveyed thereby.

Pneumatic tube conveyors of the type heretofore known are adapted to transmit small carriers between stations set up in department stores. banks. industrial plants and in other installations where a need exists to quickly convey documents and similar material between two points.

The conveyor tube passage which extends between the two points is shaped to provide a convenient path therebetween. Where. for example, one point is located in a building on the first floor thereof adjacent the front of the building and the second point is on the second floor near the rear. then the tube will have a vertical section going between the first and second floors. the vertical section being joined by a curved section to a horizontal section leading to the second point. Such conveyor tubes generally have a round or oval cross section.

The standard carrier is short and has a cross section to fit the pneumatic tube. the carrier being propelled therein at about 20 or 30 feet per second by vacuum or air pressure provided by a motor-driven air blower. The usual carrier is formed by a rigid cylinder having a re movable cap. To load a carrier. the cap is removed. the material to be transmitted is placed in the cylinder. the cap is put back and the carrier is then inserted in the input of the tube.

Let us consider a typical department store installa tion using pneumatic tube conveyors to expedite sales transactions. For this purpose. tubes are extended between points of sale and a common cashier station. When a sales slip is filled out by a clerk and bills in payment are given to the clerk by the customer. the clerk inserts the slip and the bills in a carrier and transmits it to the cashier station. At the cashier station. a duplicate of the sales slip is stamped with a receipt. and this receipt and an appropriate amount of change is put in a carrier which is sent to the clerk to complete the transaction. Thus with a conventional pneumatic conveyor. permanent carriers are an essential component of the system. and it is necessary manually to load and unload these carriers.

Certain situations exist where the need to load and unload permanent carriers precludes the use of pneumatic conveyors that otherwise would be highly advantageous. Thus in the copending patent application above-identified. there is disclosed an automatic banking machine adapted to accept a deposit pack constituted by an envelope containing the items to be deposited and a deposit slip assembly adhered to the face of the envelope and including an original slip on which the deposited items are entered. and a duplicate slip separable from the pack.

When the pack is inserted in the machine. the machine acts to separate the loaded envelope and the original deposit slip adhered thereto from the duplicate slip which is stamped with receipt data and returned to the depositor. The loaded envelope and original slip adhered thereto is fed by a gravity chute into a locked vault.

in an automatic banking machine of the type described in this copending application. it may be necessary. for reasons of security. to place the machine at an exposed. unprotected location accessible to the clientele of the bank. in which event some means are necessary to convey the loaded envelope and slip combination to a point remote from the machine having adequate security. While pneumatic conveyors are capable of transmitting the loaded envelope and slip combination to the remote point. existing forms of conveyors require permanent carriers which must be manually loaded and unloaded.

With an automatic banking machine whose purpose is to do away with the need for personnel to carry out banking transactions. it would be self-defeating if the machine required personnel to transmit deposited envelopes to a remote station. Moreover. since the machine is also intended to function unattended to accept deposits during afterhour periods when the bank is closed. personnel are not then available for operating pneumatic conveyors. As a consequence one cannot. as a practical matter. interface an automatic banking machine of the type described in the copending application with existing forms of pneumatic conveyors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing. it is the main object of this invention to provide disposable carriers for pneumatic conveyor systems. which carriers also constitute a record of the material conveyed thereby.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide disposable carriers for a pneumatic conveyor in the form of propellable scalable envelopes which are adapted to contain the material being transmitted and to afford a record of the contents of the envelope.

A significant advantage of the invention resides in the fact that it dispenses with the need to manually transfer items to be transmitted to a permanent carrier. for the scalable envelope which constitutes a record and which contains the items. is adapted to function as a carrier for a pneumatic conveyor. It therefore becomes possible in an automatic banking machine of the type described. to automatically transfer the loaded envelope to a pneumatic conveyor tube and to transmit the loaded envelope to a remote station for further processing.

Also an object of this invention is to provide envelopes adapted to act as disposable carriers in a pneumatic tube conveyor. which envelopes are normally flat and stackable and include expandable or extendible elements that are actuated by an air stream to impart propelling properties to the envelope.

Briefly stated. in one preferred embodiment ofa sealable envelope in accordance with the invention. the envelope is provided with a record slip which is so attached to the face thereof as to define a flat pocket open at its rear end. whereby when the envelope is inserted in the air stream of a pneumatic conveyor tube whose cross-sectional area is far greater than that of the envelope in the flat state. the pocket is distended to enlarge the effective cross-sectional area of the envelope and to thereby create an obstacle in the air stream. as a result of which the envelope is projected through the tube.

The envelope may also be provided at its front end with a pair of flaps that are normally flat but which stretch outwardly when subjected to the pneumatic stream. the extended flaps serving as wings to pull the envelope through the tube and also to stabilize its position in the course of movement.

OUTLINE OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof. reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional pneumatic conveyor tube arrangement;

FIG. 2 shows a conveyor tube system employing a disposable carrier in accordance with the invention:

FIG. 3 is a front view of a deposit pack which includes a subassembly adapted to function as a disposable carrier in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the deposit pack. with the duplicate slip partially withdrawn;

FIG. Sis a front view of the deposit pack with the duplicate slip partially withdrawn;

FIG. 6 in perspective. shows the sub assernbly when distended by an air stream;

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of subassembly. in flat form. in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 shows the modified sub-assembly when distended by an air stream;

FIG. 9 shows a sub pack with flap elements attached thereto in the flat state;

FIG. I shows the sub pack with the flap element extended by an air stream; and

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the pneumatic system as it functions to transmit disposable carriers from an automatic banking machine to a remote receiving station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. I, there is shown a conventional pneumatic tube conveyor in which the tube has a circular cross section and in which the permanent carrier 1 I is also circular and is provided with a removable cap 12. Because the cross-sectional area of the carrier almost matches that of the pneumatic tube. the carrier acts effectively as a plug in the tube passage which impedes the flow of air therethrough. Since air is blown at high velocity through the tube, the presence of a plug therein gives rise to a pressure differential between one end of the carrier and the other. thereby creating a force propelling the carrier through the tube at high speed.

In the pneumatic conveyor system in accordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 2. the conveyor tube 13 need not have a circular cross-section and in fact. may have a rectangular cross-section. as shown. The carrier in this instance. is disposable and is consti tutcd by a loaded envelope sub-assembly. generally designated by numeral 14. This assembly in the flat state. has a cross-sectional dimension similar to that of a conventional envelope. Consequently. in the flat state, the width w of the envelope is almost as great as the width W of the conveyor tube I3 but the height h thereof is much less than the height H of the tube.

Thus the cross-sectional area of the sub-assembly 14 in the flat state. is incapable of functioning effectively as a carrier in the pneumatic tube [3. However. as will now be explained. when the sub-assembly I4 is subjected to an air-stream. it is distended or otherwise expanded whereby its effective cross-sectional area is enlarged to a degree that the sub-assembly then behaves as a carrier and is propelled through the tube.

Referring now to FIGS. 3. 4 and 5, there is shown a deposit pack designed to be processed by an automatic banking machine of the type described in the aboveidentified copending application and also adapted to function as a disposable carrier for transmission by a pneumatic tube conveyor. The deposit pack is constituted by a standard paper envelope (ie. 10 inches X 4 inches) designated by numeral 15. and including a closure flap 16 having a band of adhesive thereon.

Secured to the top face of envelope I5 is a deposit slip assembly formed by a top sheet I7 whose upper and lower longitudinal margins and front end margin are pasted or otherwise adhered to the top face of the envelope to define a pocket or channel thcrcbetwcen open at the rear end. Top sheet 17 is printed to form an original deposit slip to be filled out by the depositor.

Received within the pocket formed between top sheet 17 and the top face of envelope I5 is a relatively narrow duplicate deposit slip 18. The rear end of the duplicate slip is secured to a separable tab 19 formed by a pair of end strips defined by transverse perforations on the top and bottom faces of the envelope 15. The rear end of duplicate deposit slip 18 is adhered to and sandwiched between the end strips forming tab 19. so that by pulling the tab relative to the pack. the deposit slip may be easily withdrawn from its pocket. as shown in FIG. 5.

As will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. both the original deposit slip 17 and the duplicate slip 18 contain the usual information required of a depositor. such as his account number. his name and address. and columns for entering the various items being deposited. The rear surface of original slip I7 is coated with a pressuresensitive reproducing or carbon surface. so that when entries are made on the original. they are transferred to the duplicate slip.

Printed laterally along the tab side of the original deposit slip is a series of solid bars 20. These bars constitutc verification data which is sensed in the banking machine to be sure that the pack deposited therein is acceptable to the machine. the pack otherwise being rejected.

When using a deposit pack of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. the depositor fills out the original slip I7 to enter the items to bc deposited. and in doing so makes a duplicate record on the underlying duplicate slip 18. He then places these items in the envelope and seals the envelope. The loaded deposit pack is then inserted in the automatic banking machine which acts to pull tab 19 and to thereby withdraw the duplicate slip which is stamped with receipt data and returned to the depositor. The loaded envelope l5 and the original slip l7 adhered thereto retained by the machine must now be transmitted to a secure place where the items can be safely removed by bank personnel and checked against the entries made on the original deposit slip which constitutes a record of the items.

Because of the structure of the deposit pack. it lends itself to use as a disposable carrier for the pneumatic system in that when the duplicate slip is pulled out of the pocket defined by the original slip and the envelope to which it is marginally adhered. this loaded subassembly can then be directly inserted in the air stream of a pneumatic conveyor tube wherein the air stream acts to inflate the pocket. Because of this bellowing effect. as shown in FIG. 6. the cross-sectional area of the sub'assembly is enlarged. and now the subassembly behaves as a plug in the tube and is transmitted therethrough.

To facilitate inflation of the pocket. the edge at the rear end ofenvclope [5 may be provided with a pair of triangular notches A and 158 which are spaced apart to define a flap lSC. This flap acts as a wing which when subjected to the air stream is raised thereby to lift the edge of the envelope and open the pocket to expedite its inflation. To minimize fluttering of the pocket. leakage holes 15D. 15E and 15F maybe provided adjacent the edge to relieve the pressure within the pocket and to create lateral airjets which serve to keep the envelope away from the surface of the conveyor tube, as shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 9. the envelope [5 may also be provided at its forward end with flaps 21 and 22 which normally lie flat. so as not to interfere with the ability of the envelope to be stacked. But when the sub-assembly formed by the envelope and original slip is inserted in a pneumatic tube and is subjected to the force of an air stream, then the pocket is distended by air entering the rear opening of the pocket as shown in FIG. 10, and flaps 21 and 22 are outstretched to provide wings which serve to pull the envelope and thereby advance it in the downstream direction. the wings also serving in the fashion of an arrow to stabilize the flight of the sub-assembly down the tube.

Thus when a loaded deposit pack is inserted in an au tomatic banking machine 23. as shown in FIG. I], through the deposit door window 24, the machine acts to pull out the duplicate slip l8 and return it to the depositor. The original slip and loaded envelope subassembly SA retained by the machine is then automatically transferred by a suitable transfer mechanism to the inlet of a conveyor tube 25 operating in conjunction with an air-blower 26 which is coupled to the inlet and outlet ends of the tube to provide an air stream flowing unidirectionally at high velocity through a continuous loop.

The sub-assembly inserted in the inlet of the tube 25 now behaves as a carrier which is transmitted through the tube to a receiving station 27 where bank personnel remove the items from the envelope. Because of the original slip. the carrier serves as a record of the deposit. Hence the sub-assembly is only used once as a carrier and in that sense is disposable.

While there has been shown preferred embodiments of disposable carriers for pneumatic conveyors in aceordance with the invention it will be appreciated that many changes may be made therein without. however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

We claim:

I. A pneumatic conveyor system comprising:

A. a tube extending between input and output statlons'.

B. means coupled to said tube at said stations to produce a high velocity air stream flowing from the input to the output station; and

C. a disposable carrier to transmit material between said stations. said carrier being constituted by an envelope which is scalable to enclose the material in combination with a normally flat and expansiblc means which when the carrier is subjected to the stream expands to enlarge the effective crosssectional area of the carrier whereby the carrier then forms an obstacle in the stream and is propelled thereby through the tube, said expansible means being constituted by a sheet adhered to the face of the envelope along its marginal sides and downstream end to define a pocket open at the upstream end thereof, which pocket is normally flat and is distended in the tube by air entering through said upstream end.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet is printed to function as a deposit slip. said pocket having a removable duplicate deposit slip inserted therein. whereby when said envelope is filled with items to be deposited, at. record thereof may be entered on said slips.

3. A pneumatic conveyor system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conveyor tube extends between an automatic banking machine which receives said envelope and withdraws and returns to the depositor the duplicate slip, and a remote receiving station for processing the deposited items.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet is notched at its near end to define a flap which is raised by the air stream to facilitate distention of the pocket.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, further including holes formed in the rear end portions of the top sheet to relieve air pressure in the pocket.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said envelope is provided with a pair of normally flat flaps at the downstream end thereof, which flaps are raised by the air stream to create wings that pull the envelope through the tube.

7. A pneumatic conveyor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tube has a rectangular cross section whose width is slightly greater than the width of the envelope and whose height is much greater than the height of the envelope in the flat state.

8. A pneumatic conveyor system as set forth in claim 1. wherein said envelope has a writing surface thereon onto which one may make a record of the transmitted material. 

1. A pneumatic conveyor system comprising: A. a tube extending between input and output stations; B. means coupled to said tube at said stations to produce a high velocity air stream flowing from the input to the output station; and C. a disposable carrier to transmit material between said stations, said carrier being constituted by an envelope which is sealable to enclose the material in combination with a normally flat and expansible means which when the carrier is subjected to the stream expands to enlarge the effective crosssectional area of the carrier whereby the carrier then forms an obstacle in the stream and is propelled thereby through the tube, said expansible means being constituted by a sheet adhered to the face of the envelope along its marginal sides and downstream end to define a pocket open at the upstream end thereof, which pocket is normally flat and is distended in the tube by air entering through said upstream end.
 2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet is printed to function as a deposit slip, said pocket having a removable duplicate deposit slip inserted therein, whereby when said envelope is filled with items to be deposited, a record thereof may be entered on said slips.
 3. A pneumatic conveyor system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conveyor tube extends between an automatic banking machine which receives said envelope and withdraws and returns to the depositor the duplicate slip, and a remote receiving station for processing the deposited items.
 4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet is notched at its near end to define a flap which is raised by the air stream to facilitate distention of the pocket.
 5. A system as set forth in claim 4, further including holes formed in the rear end portions of the top sheet to relieve air pressure in the pocket.
 6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said envelope is provided with a pair of normally flat flaps at the downstream end thereof, which flaps are raised by the air stream to create wings that pull the envelope through the tube.
 7. A pneumatic conveyor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tube has a rectangular cross section whose width is slightly greater than the width of the eNvelope and whose height is much greater than the height of the envelope in the flat state.
 8. A pneumatic conveyor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said envelope has a writing surface thereon onto which one may make a record of the transmitted material. 